Narratives Become Beliefs

Narrative therapy is an approach used in counseling to help people reauthor their stories/experiences for healing. One step of this approach I love is externalization.

Externalization helps clients separate themselves from their problems/issues.

It's a collaborative process that can help someone gain a better perspective on their issues and positively impact self-identity and confidence. The other day, I was looking in the mirror, ready to pick myself apart. And I heard, "Everything I made, I called good."  Needless to say, I was stopped in my tracks and began to think about how many times I have created a story around myself that does not fit the identity God has given me through Christ Jesus.

Have you ever caught yourself creating a negative story about who you are? It’s so useless! But check this out - in Romans 8, we find a wide-open door to our true identity in Jesus. It's like God is saying, "Access granted!"

So, what do we discover about our identity in Romans 8? First off, there's no condemnation. (v.1.) That means we're not guilty, and we are free from the penalty of sin - past, present, or future. Plus, when we focus on the right things, we experience life and peace. Being filled with the Holy Spirit gives us life. And being adopted (a loving choice) by God makes us joint heirs with Christ...Identity upgrade!

But here's the thing, if we don't know what we have access to, we might miss out on seeing God, ourselves, and the truth. The stories we tell ourselves shape the way we live and experience God. So, my advice? Dive into the scriptures to know Him and believe in your identity in Christ. It's a gift based on God's love and grace, not our merit. Embrace the freedom, adoption, hope, security, and conformity to Jesus that's already yours as a believer!